East Palo Alto council has first Latino majority

For the first time in East Palo Alto's 25-year history as a city, a majority of the five City Council members are Latino.

Political newcomers Carlos Romero and Laura Martinez were elected Tuesday night and will join Ruben Abrica and David Woods, who were not up for election, and A. Peter Evans, who won re-election.

Martinez, 24, is the youngest person ever elected to the council and is not as old as the city.

"I definitely think this is a turning point for the city," Martinez said.

The city is 58.8 percent Latino, according to the 2000 census.

Mayor Pat Foster, who didn't seek re-election after two terms, praised Martinez, who used to work for Foster at the East Palo Alto Girls Club. Martinez now works at the YMCA.

Click here to read the whole article by Don Kazak in Palo Alto Online.